HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 06-02-2026; 4-b - Proclamation Recognizing June 2026 as Pride Month 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 2, 2026
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-b
SUBJECT: Proclamation Recognizing June 2026 as Pride Month
DEPARTMENT: Office of Civil Rights and Civic
Life
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation Paul Slack, (919) 245-2317
PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation recognizing June 2026 as Pride Month in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: Each June, communities across the nation celebrate the courage and
contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals while honoring the movement's roots in resistance and
resilience. Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York City — a
spontaneous response to police harassment that sparked a nationwide push for LGBTQ+
liberation and visibility. The first Pride marches, held one year later, transformed that momentum
into public demonstrations for equality, dignity, and freedom.
Since Stonewall, LGBTQ+ advocacy has driven significant progress, including landmark Supreme
Court decisions affirming marriage equality and workplace protections, as well as expanded
federal hate crime legislation. Today, LGBTQ+ individuals serve in leadership roles across every
level of government, and Pride events around the world continue to amplify voices of joy, identity,
and justice.
Despite this progress, challenges persist. Discrimination, targeted legislation, and violence —
especially against transgender women of color — remain pressing concerns. LGBTQ+ youth still
face disproportionate levels of bullying and mental health risks. In Orange County, local data
echoes national trends, underscoring the need for affirming spaces in schools and communities.
Pride Month calls us not only to celebrate how far we have come, but to reaffirm the commitment
to a more inclusive and equitable future where all people, regardless of sexual orientation or
gender identity, are treated with dignity and respect.
One of several Pride Month events happening around Orange County in June includes the Chapel
Hill Pride Promenade on June 6, 2026 at 12:00 pm.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with the consideration of the
proclamation.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• GOAL 5: PUBLIC EDUCATION/ LEARNING COMMUNITY
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OBJECTIVE 1. Foster collaborative relationships with formal and informal educational
organizations and agencies to provide opportunities for community members to meet,
connect, and learn together.
• GOAL 6: DIVERSE AND VIBRANT ECONOMY
OBJECTIVE 1. Provide family-oriented and inclusive programming or other cultural events
for residents and visitors.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the
Chair to sign the proclamation.
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNE 2026
AS PRIDE MONTH
WHEREAS, LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) Pride Month is
celebrated nationally each year in the month of June, this month being chosen to
commemorate the riots that took place at the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan on the morning
of June 28, 1969, often viewed as the birth of the modern LGBTQ rights movement; and
WHEREAS, Pride Month honors the legacy of LGBTQ trailblazers who paved the way for
greater acceptance, visibility, and equality — from the courageous acts at the Stonewall
Inn in 1969 to the ongoing advocacy that has led to transformative social and legal
progress across the nation; and June serves as a time to reflect on these milestones,
celebrate the rich diversity of the LGBTQ community, and recommit to building a future
rooted in equity, inclusion, and justice for all; and
WHEREAS, Orange County has a history of advancing the rights of its LGBTQ residents,
including Carrboro becoming the first town in the state to enact a domestic registry for
same sex partners, extending eligibility for employment benefits to same-sex partners of
County employees in September 2004, and the election a gay and lesbian elected officials
within the County; and
WHEREAS, additionally, in January of 2021, Orange County was among the first local
governments in the state (along with Hillsborough, Carrboro, and Chapel Hill) to adopt a
local nondiscrimination law extending protections in public accommodation and
employment for persons based on their sexual orientation, and gender identity or
expression; and
WHEREAS, Pride Month is a vibrant celebration of love, authenticity, and community,
honoring the strength and resilience of LGBTQ individuals who continue to shape culture,
drive progress, and inspire future generations; and Pride events across the country and
in Orange County — such as the Chapel Hill Pride Promenade on June 6t" — provide
opportunities for education, artistic expression, joyful visibility, unity, and foster
environments where people of all identities can be seen, supported, and celebrated; and
WHEREAS, Orange County is committed to standing with and supporting the LGBTQ
community, and to working to ensure that all of people, regardless of their sexual
orientation or gender identity or expression, are treated with respect and dignity;
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby
proclaim the month of June 2026 as PRIDE MONTH in Orange County.
This the 2nd day of June 2026.
Jean Hamilton, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners